After a substantial decline during Spring Break, the number of cases of conjunctivitis — commonly known as "pink eye" — is once again increasing on campus.
"We're not quite at the level we were at before break, but we are seeing a number of new cases," health services director Pamela Bowen said.
On Monday there were 14 new cases at McCosh Health Center, Bowen said, probably resulting from the accumulation of cases while many students were off campus last week.
Students have reported more than 15 additional new cases of pink eye since Monday.
The highest number of cases seen in one day during the outbreak was 19 on March 8.
There have also been a number of repeat cases of pink eye seen at McCosh.
"Some are just follow ups, but there have been occasional people who've had it more than once," Bowen said.
It is not clear whether this week's influx of new cases is an indication that the infection will continue to spread throughout campus, she said.
But health officials at McCosh are already taking measures to prevent the further spread of pink eye.
Bowen is working with the state official at the Centers for Disease Control and with state and local health departments to help determine the severity of the situation and possible courses of action to reduce the spread of infection.
They are also conducting tests on samples taken from reported cases to get more details and may later administer a questionnaire to students to get more "epidemiological information."
Bowen is also looking at ways in which pink eye was handled at Dartmouth University, which also recently experienced an outbreak. There, specific areas of campus where infections occurred most frequently were singled out, she said.
"We certainly are in a community where people are living in close confinement with one another," Bowen noted, adding that these restricted quarters help to further spread infections.
Bowen advised students to consult the health services website, which will be updated regularly with the latest developments.
Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the membrane that covers the white of the eyeball and the inside of the eyelid. It is caused by a bacterial or viral infection.
University Health Services recommends frequent hand-washing to prevent the spread of pink eye.
To ease the pain, students should flush the eyes with water, or apply saline solution or prescription antibiotic eye drops.
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